[ HULA BOWL ]
Hula Bowl no vacation
WAILUKU >> If any of the college football standouts here for the Hula Bowl Maui thought this would be an island vacation, reality struck hard and fast at yesterday's initial practices.
The Kai team's two-hour session was particularly high-speed, with coaches Ralph Friedgen, Gary Barnett, Gary Patterson and Mike Van Dees letting their expectations be known loudly early on.
Hula Bowl Maui
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.Where: War Memorial Stadium, Maui
Tickets and information: (808) 874-9500 or www.hulabowlmaui.com
TV: Live, ESPN
Lots of crisp hitting and very little lallygagging followed. These are, after all, future professionals.
"It was pretty intense," Hawaii receiver Jeremiah Cockheran said. "I was at about 70 or 75 percent today, but I'll be better tomorrow."
Cockheran is the most likely of the four UH players here to be drafted. The general consensus among the NFL scouts here is Cockheran will be picked on the second day.
"I haven't really heard much about that, I'm not really sure," Cockheran said. "I just want to put my foot in the door. All you need is one person to like you."
Defensive back Hyrum Peters and defensive linemen Lance Samuseva and Houston Ala -- all undersized for their positions -- hope to show they're worthy of at least being invited to camp as free agents.
Samuseva, Cockheran's teammate on the Kai squad, looked pretty good in one-on-one drills.
"It's tougher (than UH practice). Everybody here is the same caliber. Everybody out here can play," Samuseva said. "I think it's going to be a good experience for everyone. Especially for me. I'm playing with some great guys. I just need to pick it up and get better everyday."
Peters and Ala are teammates on the Aina.
Ala, known for his proficiency in one-on-ones, was hard to stop in drills yesterday.
"That sucking guy was tearing me up today," said Utah tackle Sean Souza, a Saint Louis School graduate, said. "I'll have to come back strong tomorrow."
Ala was happy to put the pads on for the first time since the Dec. 25 Hawaii Bowl.
"It was good to be back into the game, banging. Having fun," the Kamehameha graduate said. "But when you come here you've got to take care of your business. It was a good experience and I'm looking forward to more this week. This was one day. I've still got the whole week."
Souza felt the same way.
"It's great to be home, but I didn't do very good today and I need to pick it up," he said. "But it's only one (practice), and it's been a couple months. Tonight I'll do some work on my own and get it cleaned up."
Late addition: Wyoming quarterback Casey Bramlet threw the ball well yesterday for the Aina team. Last week he had no plans of being here. Bramlet is an injury replacement for Colorado State quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt, who has a banged-up hand.
"I found out I was coming a couple days ago," Bramlet said. "I was at the East-West game and Brad was my roommate. When he had to pull out, (the Hula Bowl) called me up and asked if I could come. Can't turn down a trip to Maui. Just had to wear some dirty clothes the first day out here. Got the plane tickets rearranged and got out here."
Bramlet is yet another player from an unheralded team in an unheralded conference hoping to catch the scouts' attention.
"Everybody's trying to come out and show they belong in the NFL," he said. "My job this week is to improve each day and make the right throws."
Raiding: San Jose State coach Fitz Hill, an assistant for the Aina, laughed when asked about his heavy schedule of recruiting Hawaii high school talent this week.
"That's right," he said with a big grin. "I have to get back at the University of Hawaii."
UH beat San Jose State 13-10 last season, and the game ended with the host Spartans within 1 foot of the Warriors' goal line.
Busy day: After practice this morning, both teams are scheduled for an autograph session at Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center.
Out of action: Oregon defensive tackle Junior Siavii was scheduled to play for the Aina. But the All-Pac-10 honorable mention choice was arrested after a bar fight in Eugene over the weekend and did not make the trip to Hawaii.
Measuring up: The NFL did its official heights and weights of the Hula Bowl players yesterday.
The tallest player is San Diego State tackle Brendon Darby at 6-foot-6. The heaviest is Washington State tackle Josh Parrish at 334.
The shortest and lightest player is Japanese wide receiver Shinnya Ohtani at 5-5 and 135.
